6-chloro derivatives of delta-pregnen-17alpha, 21-diol-3, 20-dione and delta-pregnadiene-17alpha, 21-diol-3, 20-dione



fates The present invention relates to novel cyclopentanophenanthrene compounds.

More particularly the present invention relates to 6- chloro derivatives of A -pregnen-17a,21-diol-3,ZO-dione "and A -pregnadien-l7a,21-diol-3,20-dione, the 2l-esters of these compounds of hydrocarbon carboxylic acids of less than 12 carbon atoms, and the 17u,21-diesters of these compounds of hydrocarbon carboxylic acids of less than 12 carbon atoms. Within the foregoing definition the 6 6-chloro compounds to be hereinafter set forth in detail are intermediates for the production of the corresponding fia-chloro compounds. The 6a-chloro compounds above set forth are intermediates for the production of the active cortical hormones, 6a-chloro cortisone and hydrocortisone by well known methods involving the microbiological introduction of an 11,8- or lla-hydroxy group followed (for 6a-chloro cortisone) by oxidation to an ll-keto group. In addition the 17a,21-diesters of the 6a-chloro compounds above set forth are valuable progestational hormones.

In accordance with the present invention it has been discovered that 5a,6a-epoxide derivatives of pregnanc- 17a,21-diol-20-one having in the C3 position a ketal or alcohol group upon reaction with hydrogen chloride gave a corresponding 6-chloro derivative. As will be hereinafter set forth depending on reaction conditions these derivatives were either 6B-chloro or 606-011101'0 compounds.

The novel compounds of the present invention are illustrated in the following formulas:

.0 m or In the above formulas R represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid ester group of less than 12 carbon atoms. These ester groups may be saturated or unsaturated, of straight or branched chain, cyclic or mixed cyclic-aliphatic, unsubstituted or substituted conventionally as with methoxy or halogen. Examples of such ester groups include acetate, propionate, cyclopentylpropionate, benzoate, butyrate, etc. R represents hydrogen or' a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid ester group of les than 12 carbon atoms when R represents a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid ester group of less than 12 carbon atoms and R represents hydrogen when R is hydrogen. X represents a double bond between C1 and 0-2 or a saturated linkage between C1 and C2.

The novel compounds of the present invention are pre atent 3,067,219 Fatented Dec. 4, 1962 VIE ethylene glycol O and epoxidation l:

ethyl dry H 01 orthoformate acetic acid (EH20 R OHzO R o o h 0 -OH --OH 131mg 5 0': g

lhypochlorous acid @etic acid (EH20 R G O l "OH CQj CHgOAc (llHioAo o o o l -O Rs :'-'--o R2' peracid H O H O onions ornoAc (I30 I O i--0m l :---OR:

ehromio Y O 'd HO aci dry n 01 acetic'aci'd 50 to h to l Le I dehydrogenation In the above equations R and R represent the same groups as heretofore set forth. Ac represents acetate. Et represents ethyl. R represents hydrogen or acetate.

Referring to the first of the above equations Reichsteins substance S Zl-acetate (A -pregnen-17a,21-diol-3,20- dione 21-acetate) is conventionally converted as known in the art to 3-ethylenedioxy-5a,6ot-oxido-pregnan-17a,21- diol-ZO-one 21-acetate or to the ZI-acetate of 3-ethoxy- A -pregnadien-l7 21-diol-20-one, by reaction with ethylene glycol followed by epoxidation with a per acid, or by reaction with ethyl orthoformate. Reaction of the 21- acetate of 3 ethylenedioxy-Sa,6a-oxido-pregnan-1704,21- diol-ZO-one with dry HCl in acetic acid gave the 2l-acetate of 6a-chloro-A -pregnan-17a,2l-diol-ZO-one. If another ester of substance S is used as the starting material of the character set forth previously the final product is the corresponding ester. As indicated the same compounds may also be prepared from the 21-acetate or other ester of 3-ethoxy-A -pregnadien-17a,21-dio1-20-0ne by reacting these compounds with hypochlorous acid. The hypochlorous acid for the reaction is obtained in situ as by treatment with n-chlorosuccinimide in acetone solution in the presence of sodium acetate and acetic acid. In place of the n-chlorosuccinimide other N-chloro-imides or N-chloro-amides may be used such as N-chloroacetamide or N-chloro-benzenesulfonamide. Alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hypochlorites may also be used such as sodium or calcium hypochlorite. The compounds obtained after this last step are the corersponding 21-esters of 6 8- chloro-A -pregnen-17a,21-diol 3,20 dione. These compounds are then converted to the corresponding 6a-chloro compounds by treatment with dry HCl in acetic acid.

In the second equation above the starting material is a 2l-acetate or a 17,2l-diacetate of A -pregnen-3/8,17u,21- triol-20-one. Treatment of these compounds with a peracid such as m-onoperphthalic acid gave the corersponding 5a,6a-oxido compounds. Treatment of these oxido compounds With hydrogen chloride in chloroform gave the corresponding acetates of 6/3-chloro-pregnan-35,5a,17a, 21-tetrol-20-one. Upon treating these tetrols with chromic acid the 3B-hydroxy group was oxidized to a 3-keto group to give the 21-acetate or 17,2l-diacetate of 6,8-chloro-pregnan-5a,17a,21-triol-20-one. Treatment of these last compounds with dry hydrogen chloride in acetic acid dehydrated the compounds and inverted the GB-chloro to 6mchloro to give the 2l-acetate or 17,21-diacetate of 6achloro- -pregnen-l7a,2l-diol-3,20-dione. Both these acetates and the 21-esters of 6zx-chloro-A -pregnen-170:,21- diol-3,20-dione, previously described, upon conventional mild saponification as by reaction with sodium methoxide at a low temperature gave the corresponding free compound. The free compound was then reesterified either to form the 21-monoesters previously described or 17,21- diesters having the same or different ester groups. To form the 21-monoesters the free 6a-chloro-A -pregnen- 17a,21-diol-3,20-dione was reacted with a corresponding acid anhydride in pyridine in a conventional manner. To obtain the 17,21-diesters the same compound is reacted under acid conditions either at room temperature for a prolonged period or under reflux. The acid condition may be produced by an excess of anhydride or by p-toluenesulfonic acid for example. To form a 17,21-mixed diester the 2l-mono-esters are further esterified with a different acid anhydride under conditions as set forth for 17,21- diester formation.

As indicated in the third equation above the 2l-monoesters or 17,20-diesters of 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-17a,21- diol-3,20-dione are dehydrogenated to the corresponding A -compounds. For this reaction the preferred agent is selenium dioxide in the presence of tertiary butanol and pyridine. Thesame dehydrogenation may however be performed by known microbiological methods. The esters of 6tx-chloro-A -pregnadien-l7u,21-diol 3,20 dione are transformed to the free compound by conventional saponification.

The following specific examples serve to illustrate the present invention but are not intended to limit the same.

Example I 5 g. of the 2l-acetate of 3-ethylenedioxy-5a,6a-oxidopregnan-l7a,2l-diol-20-one was dissolved in 250 cc. of glacial acetic acid and a slow stream of dry hydrogen chloride was introduced into the solution, for a period of 2 hours, maintaining the temperature of the mixture below 18 C. It was then poured into ice water and the reaction product was extracted with methylene dichloride, washed with 5% sodium carbonate solution and water to neutral, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to dryness. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane afforded the 2l-acetate of 6zx-ChlO1'0-A pregnen-l7u,21-diol-3,20dione with M.P. l-l86 C., [u] +99.5 (chloroform), A max., 238 my. (log E 4.17).

Example II When in the previous example the 21-acetate of 3-ethy1- enedioxy 5:1,6ot oxido-pregnene-l7a,2l-diol-20-one was substituted by the Zl-acetate of 3-propylenedioxy-5a,6aoxido-pregnan-17oz,21-diol-20-one, there was also obtained the 2l-acetate of 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-17a,21-diol-3,20- dione, identical to the final compound obtained by the method of Example I.

Example III A mixture of 2 g. of the 2l-acteate of 3-ethoxy-A pregnadien-l7a,21-diol-20-one, 40 cc. of acetone, 8 cc. of Water and 800 mg. of sodium acetate was cooled to 0 C. and treated with 800 mg. of N-chlorosuccinimide and then with 0.8 cc. of glacial acetic acid. The mixture was stirred for 1 hour at 0 C. and then poured into water; the precipitate was collected, dried and recrystallized from ether, thus yielding the crude 21-acetate of 6/3-chloro-A -pregnen-l7a,2l-diol-3,20-dione which was purified by recrystallization from acetone-hexane; M.P. l93l94 C., k max. 240 mp, log E 4.15, [a] +4.13 (chloroform).

Example IV In the previous example N-chlorosuccinimide was substituted by N-chloroacetamide with the same final result.

Example V In the methods of Examples III and IV, the 21-acetate of 3-ethoxy-A -pregnadien-l7a,2l-diol-20-one was substituted by the 2l-acetate of 3-methoxy-A -pregnadien- 17a,21-diol-20-one with the same final result.

5 Example VI 1 g. of the 21-acetate of fip-chloro-A -pregnen-17a-21- diol-3,20-dione obtained by any of the methods of Examples III to V, was dissolved in 50 cc. of glacial acetic acid and a slow stream of dry hydrogen chloride was introduced into the solution for 2 hours maintaining the temperature below 18 C. The reaction product was worked up as described in Example I. There was thus obtained the 21-acetate of 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-l7a,2l-diol-3,20- dione, identical to that obtained in such example.

. Example VII A suspension of 1 g. of the Zl-acetate of 6a-chloro-A pregnen-17a-21-diol-3,20-dione in 10 cc. of absolute methanol was cooled to C. and mixed under nitrogen with a cooled solution of sodium methoxide prepared by dissolving approximately 60 mg. of sodium in 5 cc. of absolute methanol. The mixture was stirred under nitrogen for 1 hour and then poured into a cooled saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride containing 0.3 cc. of glacial acetic acid. The precipitate was collected, washed with water, dried and crystallized from acetone-hexane, thus giving 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-17a,21diol-3,20-dione.

Example VIII By the same method of the previous example, the 21- acetates of 6,8-cliloro-A -pregnen-17a,21-diol-3,20-dione was converted into the free 6fi-chloro-A -pregnen-l7a,21- diol-3,20-dione.

Example IX A mixture of 1 g. of 6B-chloro-A -pregnen-17u,21-diol- 3,20-dione, 10 cc. of pyridine and 1 cc. of propionic anhydride was kept overnight at room temperature and poured into water. The mixture was heated on the steam bath for half an hour, cooled and the precipitate was collected. Recrystallization from acetone-hexane yielded the 2l-propionate of 6B-chloro-A -pregnen-l7a,21-diol- 3,20-dione.

Similarly, there was prepared the 21-propionate of 6achloro-A -pregnen-17a,21-diol-3,20-dione; When propionic anhydride was substituted by the anhydride or chloride of another hydrocarbon carboxylic acid, of up to 12 carbon atoms, there were obtained the corresponding 21- esters. Specifically there were obtained in this way the-21- cyclopentylpropionate and the 21-benzoate.

Example X A solution of 5 g. of the 21-acetate of A -pregnen- 3fl,17a,21-triol-20-one in 100 cc. of chloroform was mixed with 1.5 molar equivalents of monoperphthalic acid in ether solution and the mixture was kept at room temperature for 20 hours. It was then diluted with water and the organic layer was separated and washed with water, sodium bicarbonate solution and again with water to neutral, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue crystallized from acetone-hexane to give the 21-acetate of 5a, 6aoxido-pregnan-lip,17a,21-triol-20-one.

3 g. of the 2l-acetate of 5a,6a-oxido-pregnan-3,B,17a,21- t'riol-3,20-dione-was dissolved in 100 cc. of chloroform, cooled to 0 C. and then a slow stream of dry hydrogen chloride was allowed to pass into the solution for 2 hours while the temperature was maintained below 10 C. The mixture was diluted with Water and the chloroform layer was washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-furnished the 21-acetate of 6fl-chloro-pregnan-3/3,5a,17a,21-tetrol-20-one.

A solution of 3 g. of the acetate of 6p-chloro-pregnan- 3,8,5,17u21-tetrol-20-one in 150 cc. of acetone was cooled to 0 C. and mixed with an 8N solution of chromic acid prepared by mixing 1.7 g. of chromic acid with concentrated sulfuric acid and water. The reagent was added dropwise with stirring and keeping the temperature below 0 C. The stirring was continued for 1 hour at 0 C. and then the mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ether. The extract was washed, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to dryness. Recrystallization oi; the residue from acetone yielded the 21-acetate of 6p-chloro-pregnan-5a,17a,21-triol- 3,20-dione.

2 g. of the 21-acet'ate of 6B-chloro-pregnan-5a,170:,21- triol-3,20-dione was dissolved in cc. of glacial acetic acid and a slow stream of dry hydrogen chloride was passed into the solution for 2 hours at a temperature around 18 C. The mixture was diluted with water and the product was extracted with ethyl acetate, washed with water, 5% sodium carbonate solution and water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane afforded the 21-acetate of 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-1-7a,21-diol- 3,20-dione, identical with the compound of Example I.

Example XI A suspension of 3 g. of the 21-acetate' of 5a,6a-oxidopregnan-Bfl,17a,21-triol-20onc in 200 cc. of acetone was mixed with 10 cc. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and stirred for one and a half hours. It was then poured into saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and extracted with three portions of methylene dichloride. The extract was washed with 5% sodium carbonate solution and then with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated to 30 cc. The mixture was cooled and the crystalline precipitate was collected, thus giving the ZI-acetate of 6,8-chloro-pregnan-3 3,5a,17a,21-tetrol-20-one, identical with the compound obtained by the method of Example X.

Example XII 3 g. of the ZI-acetate of 6a chloro pregnan- 3e,5a,17a,21-tetrol-20-one dissolved in cc. of acetic acid was mixed with 950 mg. of chromic acid previously dissolved in 20 cc. of 80% acetic acid. The reagent was added dropwise to the stirred solution which was kept at a temperature below 15 C. The stirring was continued for 2 hours at 15 C. and the mixture was then diluted with water and the precipitate formed was collected, washed with water, dried and recrystallized from acetonehexane, thus yielding the 21-acetate of 6B-chloro-pregnan- 5a,17a,21-triol-3,20-dione, identical with the compound obtained by the method of Example X.

Example XIII By the methods of Examples X to XII, the 17,21-di acetate of A -pregnen-3fl,17a,21-triol-20 one was converted into the 17,2l-diacetate of 5u,6a-oxido-pregnan- 3a,17a,21-triol-20-one, then into the 17,21-diacetate' of 6,6-chloro-pregnan-3 ,8,5 11,17 a,21-tetrol-20-one and then into that of Gfl-chloro-pregnan-SaJ7a,21-triol-3,20-dione. The final product was the diacetate of 6a-chloro-A pregnen-17a,21-diol-3,20-dione.

Example XIV A suspension of 1 g. of the diacetate of 6a-chloro-A pregnen-17a,21-diol-3,20-dione in 10 cc. of absolute methanol was cooled to 0 C. and mixed with a solution of sodium methoxide prepared by dissolving mg. of sodium metal in 10cc. of absolute methanol; the addition was effected with stirring under an atmosphere of nitrogen. The stirring was continued under nitrogen for 1 hour at 0 C. and the mixture was then poured into 60 cc. of cold saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution containing 0.3 cc. of acetic acid. The precipitate formed was collected, washed with water, dried and recrystallized from acetone-hexane. There was thus obtained the free 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-17a,21-diol-3,20-dione, identical with the compound of Example I.

Example XV A solution of 1 g. of 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-17a,21-diol- 3,20-dione in 50 cc. of anhydrous benzene was treated with 4 cc. of propionic anhydride and 300 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid and the mixture was kept standing at room temperature for 40 hours. It was then diluted with water and the organic layer was separated, washed with water, aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and again with water to neutral, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the benzene was evaporated. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane furnished 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-l7a,21 diol 3,20 dione 17,21 propionate.

- Example XVI By the method of Example XV, 1 g. of the 2l-cyclopentylpropionate of 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-l7r,21-diol- 3,20-dione, in solution in 50 cc. of anhydrous benzene, was treated with 2 cc. of acetic anhydride and 200 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid, at room temperature for 24 hours. The acetylation product was worked up as above, thus yield yielding 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-17a,21-diol-3,20- dione 17-acetate-2l-cyclopentylpropionate.

Example XVII Following the procedure described in Examples XV and XVI, there were prepared other 17,21-diesters of 6achloroA -pregnen-l7a,21 diol 3,20 dione, wherein the ester groups were identical or difierent from each other. By this method there were prepared specifically the 17,21- dibenzoates, the 17,21-diacetates, the '17,2l-dicyclopentylpropionates, the 17-acetate, 21-butyrate, etc.

Example XVIII A mixture of 2 g. of 6a-chlor0-A -pregnen-17a,2l-diol- 3,20-dione diacetate, 100 cc. of tertiary butanol, 0.8 g. of recently sublimed selenium dioxide and 0.4 cc. of pyridine was refluxed for 72 hours under an atmosphere of nitrogen. The mixture was filtered, washing the filter with 40 cc. of hot t-butanol, and the combined filtrate and washings was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in acetone, treated with decolorizing charcoal and filtered. The acetone was removed and the residue was chromatographed on neutral alumina, thus yielding 6a-chloro-A -pregnadien-l7a,21- diol13,20-dione diacetate.

Eample XIX By the method of the previous example, there was dehydrogenated 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-17u,21-diol-3,20-dione 17-acetate-21-butyrate to produce 60: chloro A pregnadien-l7a,2l-diol-3,20-dione 17-acetate-2l-butyrate.

Example XX Following the procedure described in Example XVIII, there was introduced an additional double bond between C-1 and C-2 of other diesters of hydrocarbon carboxylic acids of less than 12 carbon atoms 6a-chloro-A -pregnen- 17a,21-diol-3,20-dione, which esters were formed with identical radicals or different from each other including the other esters referred to in Example XVII.

Example XXI By conventional saponification of the esters of 60achloro-A -pregnadien-l7a,21-diol-3,2O-dione such as the 17,2l-diacetate there was prepared the free 6a-chloro- A -pregnadien-17,21-diol-3,20-dione.

We claim:

1. A compound of the following formula:

CHzOR wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic ester group of less than 12 carbon atoms.

3. The 21-monoacetate of 6,8-chloro-A -pregnen-:,21- diol-3,20-dione.

4. A compound of the following formula:

CHzOR A C .r Jj

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of a double bond between C-1 and C-2 and a saturated linkage between C1 and C2, R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic ester group of less than 12 carbon atoms, R is hydrogen when R is hydrogen and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic ester group of less than 12 carbon atoms when R is a hydrocarbon carboxylic ester group of less than 12 carbon atoms.

5. a-chloro-A -pregnen-17m,21-diol-3,20-dione.

6. The 2l-hydrocarbon carboxylic mono esters of less than 12 carbon atoms of 6ot-chloro-A -pregnen-170:,21- diol-3,20-dione.

7. The 17,21-hydrocarbon carboxylic di esters of less than 12 carbon atoms of 6a-chloro-M-pregnen-17,21- diol-3,20-dione.

8. The 21-monoacetate of 6a-chloro-A -pregnen-l7a,21- diol-3,20-dione.

9. The 17,21-diacetate of a-chloro-A -pregnen-170:,21- diol-3,20-dione.

1i). 6a-chloro-A -pregnadien-17a,2l-diol-3,2O-dione.

11. The 21-hydrocarbon carboxylic mono esters of less than 12 carbon atoms of 6a-chloro-A -pregnadien- 17a,21-diol-3,20-dione.

12. The 17,21-l1ydrocarbon carboxylic di esters of less than 12 carbon atoms of 6a-chloro-A -pregnadien- 170:,21-(ll0l-3,20dl021.

13. The 2l-rnonoacetate of 6a-chloro-A -pregnadien- 17a,2l-di0l 3,20-dione.

14. The 17,2l-diacetate of 6a-chloro-A -pregnadiem 17a,21-diol-3,20-dione.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,774,775 Korman et al. Dec. 18, 1956 2,786,855 Sondheimer et al Mar. 26, 1957 2,837,464 Nobile June 3, 1958 2,838,540 Campbell et al June 10, 1958 2,862,939 Dodson et al. Dec. 2, 1958 2,865,914 Schneider et al. Dec. 23, 1958 2,934,546 Ringold et al Apr. 26, 1960 OTHER REFERENCES Sondheimer et al.: J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 75, Dec. 5, 1953, pp. 5930-593.

Meystre et al.: Helv. Chim. Acta, vol. 39, Section III, 1956, No.88, pp. 734-42.

Bowers et al.: J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 80, Aug 20, 1958, pp. 4423 and 4424. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA:
 4. A COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA: 